Discover how Swiss health insurance covers fertility treatments such as IVF, ICSI and social freezing and explore financing options for uncovered costs.
Key Facts
- Costs for fertility treatments are often calculated per treatment cycle
- Hormone stimulation, IUI and medical freezing are covered by health insurance in Switzerland
- IVF, ICSI and social freezing are currently not covered
- Supplementary insurance offers partial coverage for IVF/ICSI
- Changing health insurance providers might be beneficial for those planning a family
Introduction
Which health insurance company contributes to fertility treatments? Couples in Switzerland who wish to have children often face the high costs of fertility treatments. This article provides an overview of how basic health insurance covers these treatments in Switzerland. You'll also learn how supplementary insurance can offer financial support on your journey.
How much IVF, ICSI, and IUI cost in Switzerland
The costs of infertility treatments can add up quickly. As conception requires a mature egg, which typically develops once a month, treatments are often priced per cycle. If fertilisation attempts, such as those using assisted reproductive technology (ART), are unsuccessful, couples must wait for the next cycle to begin another round of treatment. Consequently, fertility clinics generally quote prices on a per-cycle basis.
The tariffs for different treatment methods vary depending on the fertility clinic:
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF): approx. CHF 5,000 to CHF 8,000 per treatment cycle
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): approx. CHF 8,000 to CHF 10,000 per treatment cycle
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI): approx. CHF 1,000 to CHF 2,000 per treatment cycle
- Social freezing (for non-medical reasons): approx. CHF 3,000 to CHF 5,000 per treatment cycle
Overview of Costs Covered by Basic Insurance
But which costs are covered by compulsory health insurance for which treatments in Switzerland? The following table provides an overview of the services whose costs are (not) covered by basic insurance.
| Service | Covered by basic insurance |
| Counseling and diagnosis | Costs covered in the event of infertility, recurrent miscarriages, and hormonal disorders. |
| Fertility-preserving treatments (e.g., medical freezing) | Costs covered before fertility-damaging treatment up to the age of 40. |
| Hormonal stimulation | Cost coverage for hormone therapy for 12 cycles or hormone treatment for one year for women up to the age of 40. |
| IUI | Cost coverage for three cycles up to the age of 40. Consultation with the health insurance company is nevertheless recommended. |
| IVF | Costs incurred after the initiation of hormone treatment must be covered by the patient. |
| ICSI | Costs incurred after the initiation of hormone treatment must be covered by the patient. |
| Cryopreservation for non-medical reasons (Social Freezing) | No coverage. |
| Preimplantation genetic diagnosis | No coverage. Consultation with the health insurance company is nevertheless recommended. |
Coverage by supplementary insurance
Currently, only Sanitas supplementary insurance contributes to the costs of IVF treatment under certain conditions. It covers the costs of additional IUI treatments not covered by basic insurance and 75% of the costs for IVF/ICSI treatments, with a maximum reimbursement of CHF 12,000.
There is a waiting period of 24 months, meaning the supplementary insurance will only cover costs if you have had it for at least 24 months.
If you or your partner already know that your chances of success with insemination are low due to a reproductive restriction, your chances of being accepted for Sanitas supplementary insurance are slim. Additionally, if you have already undergone in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, you cannot take out this supplementary insurance.
Think about changing health insurance early on
It's worth considering family planning and possibly changing your health insurance provider early. If there's a chance you'll start a family next year, you might want to adjust your deductible. In Switzerland, pregnancies aren't typically life-threatening, but there is a higher risk of increased medical visits, check-ups or operations (e.g., in the case of miscarriages), which basic insurance may not fully cover.
A change in your health insurance premium might prompt you to switch your basic insurance. Remember, the switching period is only valid until the end of November each year. After November 30, you'll be tied to your current basic insurance for another year.
It might be beneficial to change your supplementary insurance if you want a fitness subscription for your (reproductive) health or if you're interested in alternative medicine services or pregnancy massages. Some supplementary insurances contribute to these costs.
If you're considering changing your supplementary insurance, check the change deadline as soon as possible. You can find this in your policy. Note: Some supplementary insurance policies require cancellation by the end of September, not November, as is the case with basic insurance.
If it's realistic for you to start a family in about two years and you want financial security, consider Sanitas supplementary insurance today. Sanitas only starts covering all or part of fertility treatment costs after a 24-month waiting period.
Switzerland compared to the EU
According to an OECD report, the Swiss healthcare system is among the best in the world. Switzerland excels in high life expectancy and relatively short waiting times for medical specialist appointments compared to other countries.
However, Switzerland performs significantly worse in providing financial support for couples struggling with infertility. Although infertility is classified as a disease by the World Health Organization, basic insurers in Switzerland do not cover IVF treatment. The situation is different abroad: In Ireland, the Minister of Health announced in July 2023 that the state will cover the costs of three IUI cycles and one IVF cycle. This has long been standard practice in Germany. France leads in financial support for reproductive medicine methods, with the state covering the entire cost of up to six IVF cycles for women under 43.
The limited financial support from Swiss health insurance companies leads some Swiss women to seek fertility treatment abroad, where costs are usually lower.
Takeaway
It's best to start considering your family planning today. Think about whether it's worth changing your deductible and your basic insurance provider. Whether you currently have a partner or not, if you plan to start a family in about two years, consider taking out Sanitas supplementary insurance. It's generally worthwhile to check if the supplementary insurance includes fertility-enhancing benefits (e.g., fitness subscriptions). Find out about the switching periods for your supplementary insurance in advance.
Although Swiss health insurance companies rarely cover fertility treatments, you should always inquire and clarify which services are covered, even with your supplementary insurance.
